Creative Arts Instructor

For every journey, let’s take first steps together.

At First Steps Together, we believe every child and young person deserves to feel safe, understood, included and able to succeed.

We are a growing group of specialist independent schools providing nurturing, inclusive and aspirational education for children and young people with a range of additional needs, including SEND, SEMH and complex presentations. Across our schools, strong relationships, personalised teaching and high expectations are central to helping pupils overcome barriers to learning, develop confidence and independence, and achieve positive outcomes.

As our Education provision continues to grow, we are looking for an exceptional Skills Instructor – Creative Arts to join our team.

This is an opportunity for a creative, enthusiastic and committed individual to deliver engaging, practical and personalised creative arts learning for pupils with SEND, helping young people explore their interests, develop new skills and express themselves through a range of creative activities.

You’ll deliver hands-on, skills-based learning experiences that inspire creativity, build confidence and develop practical abilities, while supporting pupils to strengthen their communication, teamwork, resilience and independence in preparation for their future.

About The School

The Watkin is a specialist provision in Wythenshawe, Manchester, supporting autistic students as well as those with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs and other specific requirements.

Located across three floors, the school offers learners aged 11-16 (Key Stage 3 and 4) a nurturing and structured environment. Our focus is on delivering tailored support including strong pastoral care and staff relationships, to promote academic, social and emotional growth.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll plan and deliver engaging, practical and personalised creative arts sessions for individual pupils and small groups, using a range of artistic activities, materials and techniques to develop creativity, practical skills and self-expression.

Working from pupils’ individual starting points, you’ll adapt activities, resources and approaches to meet a wide range of SEND profiles, ensuring learning is accessible, enjoyable and appropriately challenging. You’ll support pupils to work towards individual learning goals, EHCP outcomes and relevant practical accreditation or qualifications, where appropriate.

You’ll create a safe, structured and nurturing creative learning environment, where pupils feel confident to explore new ideas, experiment with different techniques and take pride in their achievements. You’ll ensure materials, tools and equipment are used safely and that practical activities are appropriately adapted to individual needs.

You’ll have high expectations for both practical skills development and personal progress, helping pupils develop creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, communication, emotional regulation and independence through meaningful, hands-on experiences.

Positive behaviour support will be an important part of your practice. You’ll use proactive regulation, co-regulation and personalised strategies, working with individual behaviour support plans to help pupils overcome barriers and participate successfully in learning.

You’ll assess, record and celebrate pupils’ progress, providing constructive feedback, identifying next steps and contributing to individual learning plans, EHCP reviews and wider assessments of pupil development.

You won’t do this alone. You’ll work closely with school leaders, teaching staff, pastoral teams, families and other professionals to ensure creative arts provision supports pupils’ wider educational, social and emotional development. You’ll also contribute to developing and improving the school’s practical and vocational learning opportunities.

Bring your difference

We’re looking for someone who believes that creativity can open doors, build confidence and help every pupil discover what they can achieve.

You’ll bring strong practical knowledge, creativity and experience in creative arts, alongside the ability to plan and deliver engaging, hands-on learning activities that inspire and motivate young people.

You’ll have experience working with secondary-aged pupils and be confident adapting activities and instruction to meet different abilities, interests and learning needs. You’ll understand the importance of personalised learning, clear routines and positive relationships in helping pupils with additional needs participate and succeed.

You’ll have GCSE English and Maths at grade C/4 or above, or equivalent, alongside relevant creative arts knowledge and practical expertise. A degree, vocational qualification or specialist training in a relevant creative arts discipline, education or SEND would be advantageous.

Experience working with pupils with SEND, SEMH needs or within specialist education or alternative provision would be particularly valuable, as would experience supporting practical accreditation, vocational learning or skills-based qualifications.

You’ll be organised and confident assessing and recording progress, managing practical resources safely and working collaboratively with colleagues and other professionals.

We’re looking for someone who is creative, nurturing, patient, resilient and adaptable; someone who can remain calm when situations are challenging, build trusting relationships and encourage pupils to try new things, develop confidence and celebrate their achievements.

Above all, you’ll be someone who combines enthusiasm for creative arts with high expectations and a genuinely pupil-centred approach, sharing our commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and achieving positive outcomes for every child and young person.

Why First Steps Together?

This is an opportunity to develop your career within a growing specialist education organisation, where personalised learning and the individual needs of pupils sit at the heart of what we do.

You’ll join a supportive and collaborative school team, with access to ongoing professional development and specialist training, as well as opportunities to contribute to the development of creative arts and vocational learning provision across the school.

Most importantly, you’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to children and young people by helping them discover their creativity, develop practical skills, build confidence and recognise their own potential.

If you’re a creative, enthusiastic and committed individual who wants to inspire young people through practical learning, encourage self-expression and help pupils develop the skills and confidence they need for their future, we’d love to hear from you.

Bring your difference. Take your next step with First Steps Together.

Safeguarding

First Steps Together is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Appointment to this role will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment and pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced DBS, satisfactory references, online checks and overseas police checks where required.

Application

If you would like to arrange an informal discussion about the role with the Headteacher or a member of our People Services Team, please contact us by emailing, [email removed].<